Good afternoon, everyone. Today’s Writer Wednesday, we are featuring Ingrid Morgan. Ingrid is the author of the recently published 1974: A Survivor’s Story. Here, she takes time out of her schedule, in the midst of everything that is happening right now, to tell us about her new book.
Polite On Society: Who is Ingrid Morgan? Can you tell us about a little about your background?
Ingrid Morgan: I grew up in Brooklyn and am a Mother of two beautiful girls and a Grandmother of three beautiful girls and a published Author, Certified Emergency Response Team Member, Education Advisory Board Member, Piper High School Liasion, Citizen Police Academy volunteer, Advocate for National Alliance Of Mental Health and Advocate for Women In Distress Domestic
POS: What motivated you to write 1974: A Survivor’s Story?
IM: Motivation to write my book was from experience dealing with domestic violence and mental health issues. I want to be the voice and break barriers of people to speak out and not be afraid. I have gone through trauma. I want no one to ever experience being a victim of domestic violence. Once it happens you will forever have a bad memory that is hard to erase.
I was motivated and determine even after many years to finish my dream and praise God, I did it and so can you. I used to say the phrase I can’t and through my experience now only say I can. I always knew what I wanted to accomplish but kept putting it off my book. It is telling my personal story, but also I dedicated an entire chapter title “words of wisdom” so that anyone who reads my book can gain inspiration and maybe change certain things in their life that aren’t right.
The way the world is it will never be the same and we will have to adapt to change. My ultimate goal is to let people know that there is no one on earth that is 100% perfect. That is the motivation for my book- that somewhere somehow we are all survivors.
Domestic violence is sometimes verbal and emotional and can hurt just as much as physical abuse and is often unrecognized form of domestic violence. Words hurt and they are very painful and leave a lasting impression. That is considered as abuse as well, I had lost my self-confidence, self-esteem and myself.
I then went to counseling and had a support team. Then I found out I’m not alone I am not the things that I was told. I learned that I was in denial. I kept getting in the same relationships and I stayed because it was familiar and I believe it could change at the time- boy was I wrong.
But I had to go through my experience to understand it. I understand that the only change that would have to occur is with me. Many of us think that there is no way out, and I am here to tell you there is. I am a living example that it’s never too late.
Writing this book is only the tip of the iceberg. I will start my journey of going out and speaking to people and continue to learn about myself every day. I am so thankful that I have a family that I can count on and most of all I am safe.
I have learned with experience to look for red flags. If a negative word or less than comment is made towards me I walk away. I am now attracted to positive words and people, it gives me strength and builds my self-esteem.
If it happened to me it can happen to you- it’s a journey of healing and along the way you will find gratitude and you will start to realize the true you. If it gets to be overwhelming give yourself a break you deserve it, and most of all have faith you are loved and deserving.
POS: Who is A Survivor’s Story for, and what do you hope the reader will gain from reading your work?
IM: The survivor story is for is for anyone who has endured any kind of humiliation, blame, verbal insults, monitoring whereabouts, withholding affection, threats, verbal, emotional and physical abuse, and experienced economic abuse where the abuser prevents them from working, ruins their credit score or harasses them at work just to name a few of what a survivor means. If you have experienced any of these especially in these times when the world is in an emotional turmoil. In the current time we are surviving to stay alive with the effects of covid 19- a world epidemic.
I hope the reader will gain the gift of letting go of who you think you’re supposed to be and actually embracing who you are and start to engage with the world from a place of worthiness and learn to love yourself just the way you are.
Through my story of pain and anguish and being in a very abusive relationship, I want my readers to know it was an incredibly hard process. Many days I didn’t think I was going to make but what the grace of God and is the everlasting face there is life after abuse. When all things fell apart and I didn’t know how to cope I decided I had had enough. I took it day by day and built up the courage to stay positive, and use my pain to cultivate courage for my daughter and our well-being; God was the only thing that mattered to me and I started to rebuild my life.
Figuring out where to begin was overwhelming and at times I felt hopeless but I turned on the negative into positive with the help of therapy because it’s my new life now. I had to rebuild by focusing on what I wanted to accomplish, and learning strategies for recovery, and learning how to establish healthy relationships moving forward.
I want my readers to learn from me that I didn’t see it because I was in it but I learned why it happened to me why it wasn’t my fault that I often blamed myself and why couldn’t figure out why the abuser didn’t change, I want my readers to visualize and paint a clear picture of how I survived and what I went through even years later I’m still experiencing symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, I am still in therapy and learning different trauma recovery techniques to help me cope with the aftermath of abuse is called cognitive trauma therapy which is basically exercises to break down negative thoughts, dispelling feelings of helplessness, and being a happier, healthier person.
I also have included in my book for my readers some comforting words of wisdom.
POS: How long did it take you to finish your book?
IM: I started the book in April 1991 and I haven’t stopped writing. Since then life kept happening and time past by after having two strokes, I decided the time is now. I wasn’t going to concentrate on anything else but to complete my book and by the grace of God and was published on my birthday April 2020.
POS: What advice would you give someone who’s looking to publish of book as you have?
IM: The first thing that I would suggest is to decide why you want to publish a book. Then I would start with writing don’t stop writing it’s better to have more content than less. I would get feedback for publishing your book, choose a good book title. If you like hire a great book editor look for recommendations or the reviews. Design a book cover that converts. Create your Kindle direct publishing account, format and upload your book.
There is a lot entailed into publishing a book you also would need the ISBN, barcode, copyright, distribution list, formatting,editoral assessment, cover design, strongly suggested author’s website, marketing materials, and a team to help you who is there to give you support.
—
I’d like to thank Ingrid for taking the time to reach out to us. Her book is now available for purchase on Amazon.